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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
05:45
Composition and Distribution Analysis of Bioaerosols Under Different Environmental Conditions
Published on: January 7, 2019
Global supply chain relocation reshaped PM2.5 pollution and human health risks
Kaijie Chen1, Tingting Fang2, Qi Ran1
1Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Environment International
|July 2, 2026
Summary
Global supply chain shifts increase PM2.5 pollution and premature deaths, especially in the Global South. Developed nations benefit from improved air quality, highlighting the need for equitable environmental policies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
- Economics
Background:
- Global supply chains (GSC) are shifting, moving from developed to developing nations and increasingly from China to South and Southeast Asia.
- The health impacts of these GSC relocations on particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the impacts of GSC relocation on PM2.5 pollution and associated health burdens.
- To analyze the distributional effects of these health burdens across countries.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of PM2.5-related premature deaths linked to GSC relocation.
- Analysis of trade patterns (North-South and South-South) driving these shifts.
Main Results:
- GSC relocation led to a net global increase of 207,105 PM2.5-related premature deaths in 2022.
- Health burdens disproportionately affected the Global South (India, China, Southeast Asia), while the Global North (US, Europe, Japan) saw health benefits.
- GSC relocation exacerbated health inequality, with North-South trade transferring burdens and South-South trade also significantly impacting regions like India and Southeast Asia.
Conclusions:
- GSC relocation has significant, uneven health consequences, increasing global mortality from PM2.5 pollution.
- Policies must consider health co-benefits and equitable distribution of environmental outcomes to mitigate negative impacts.
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